I Alone

This article is about the song by Live. For the episode of The Vampire Diaries, see I Alone (The Vampire Diaries).

"I Alone" is the second single from American rock band Live's third studio album, Throwing Copper (1994). The single was released to radio stations in Canada and the United States but was only released commercially overseas. "I Alone" reached No. 6 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and was ranked 62nd-best song of the 1990s by VH1.^[3] Live performed "I Alone" at the Woodstock '99 festival on July 23, 1999, in Rome, New York.^[4]

"I Alone"
Single by Live
from the album Throwing Copper
B-side	"Pain Lies on the Riverside" "Selling the Drama" (acoustic)
Released	1994[1]
Genre	Post-grunge[2]
Length	3:48
Label	Radioactive
Songwriter(s)	Live
Producer(s)	Jerry Harrison Live
Live singles chronology
"Selling the Drama" (1994) "I Alone" (1994) "Lightning Crashes" (1994)

Composition

"I Alone" is written in the key of G major (recorded a half step lower in G♭ major). Kowalczyk's vocal range spans from C♯3-G4.^[5] Lead singer Ed Kowalczyk said of the song's lyrics, "People think 'I Alone' is a love song but it really wasn't. The lyrics were more abstract, encompassing a much larger message."^[6] He explained the line, "The greatest of teachers won't hesitate to leave you there by yourself chained to fate," by saying that a profound lesson he derived from studying spiritual teachings was that religion and truth must be found for oneself and practiced, rather than just accepting the word of others.^[7]

Track listings

All songs were written by Live.

Australian release^[8]

1. "I Alone"
2. "Pain Lies on the Riverside"
3. "Selling the Drama" (acoustic)

UK and German releases^[9][10]

1. "I Alone" – 3:51
2. "I Alone" (acoustic) – 3:47
3. "Pain Lies on the Riverside" – 5:10

Charts

Chart (1994–1995)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[11]	97
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[12]	22
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[13]	20
Scotland (OCC)[14]	42
UK Singles (OCC)[15]	48
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)[16]	8
US Radio Songs (Billboard)[17]	38
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[18]	6
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[19]	6

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	1994	Radio	Radioactive	[citation needed]
United Kingdom	February 6, 1995	7-inch vinyl CD cassette		[20]

References

1. "How I wrote 'I Alone' by Live's ed Kowalczyk – Songwriting Magazine". 30 June 2019.
2. Yates, Henry (January 25, 2021). "The story behind I Alone by Live". Classic Rock. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
3. "Top 100 Songs of the '90s". VH1. Archived from the original on February 14, 2012. Retrieved December 13, 2007.
4. "Live – I Alone (Woodstock 1999)" YouTube
5. Live "I Alone" Sheet Music musicnotes.com
6. "Men With A Message". Retrieved February 23, 2008. Yahoo! Music (link no longer working)
7. "Live – interview page". Archived from the original on February 18, 2008. Retrieved February 23, 2008. – Listenin.org (link no longer working)
8. I Alone (Australian CD single liner notes). Live. Radioactive Records, MCA Records. 1994. MCADS32579.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
9. I Alone (UK CD single liner notes). Live. Radioactive Records. 1995. RAXTD 13.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
10. I Alone (German CD single liner notes). Live. Radioactive Records. 1995. RAD 32280.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
11. "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 22 Jan 1995". ARIA. Retrieved August 13, 2016 – via Imgur.
12. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 5, 1995" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
13. "Live – I Alone" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
14. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
15. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
16. "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
17. "Live Chart History (Radio Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
18. "Live Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard.
19. "Live Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard.
20. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. February 4, 1995. p. 35.

External links

• Official website
• "I Alone" Music Video via YouTube